Exclusive Interview with Strify for "All Stars" (Russia) #18(266) 2009 It coincided, that this edition of “All Stars” magazine and the new album “ToyZ” of Cinema Bizarre will be released at the same day in Russia. We connected on the phone with the leader of the group Strify and asked him some questions.
Strify, why does the album have such title? Why “ToyZ”?
I think, all people like to play. The question is in that, with what and whom you play. This title has a double meaning. From the one hand, toys is something very childish. Naïve and innocent. But adults have their own games: very often unfair and dirty. They play with money, power and sex. Everybody has own secrets, and a person plays to conceal it from people. In the title of the album both these meanings are implied.
Did you have favorite toys in your childhood?
Yes, it was “Lego”.
And now what do you like to play?
Most of all I am interested in different technical things. For example, heaped mobiles.
Did you put off the release of “ToyZ” because of that story with “My Obsession”?
Yes. This song should become the first single from the album. But it happened, that it fell into Internet before the release at the disc. And we had to find a replacement. In the end the first single became the song “I came 2 party”, combined work with Space Cowboy. We needed time to make a video and all that stuff.
Are you satisfied by the album?
Yes, sure. It was a challenge for us. We had to stand by our style. But at the same time, we didn’t want to make “Final Attraction” № 2. In my opinion, we coped with a task well. At the new disc our development is evident.
What does the new album differ from the debut one?
It’s heavier. In pop and rock parts. There are dance tracks and there are very rock ones. We made a lot of experiments with the sound. We made the album with a sight for performance on the stage. Playing alive songs from the debut CD, we realized, that not every number from the studio will be good for the stage. The new album is more “ scenic”.
Well, we’ll see. And the titles of some songs sound designing. For example, “Je ne regrette rien” (I regret about nothing). Does this song have only French title or do you really sing in French language there?
Yes, I sing in French. This is one of my favorite languages. Texts are important for me like a music. At first, this song had German text. Then we decided to sing it in French. It was magical!
And what about “Tears In Vegas”? Did some of you happen to shed tears in Las Vegas?
No. We have never been there. This city is a symbol, which associated by everybody with risky games, with boisterous life, where everything is shinning. We decided to show another picture, adding there some melancholy. The new bright, shinning world came in, where somebody cries. Vehemence and sadness are together.
Here is one more riddle: “Hypnotized by Jane”. Who is this mysterious Jane?
We didn’t mean a concrete girl. It can be any girl, who hypnotized you.
But not any girl has the name Jane.
(Laughing). Yes, but you shouldn’t apprehend everything so literally.
May be you should make an album of songs with girlish names? “Hypnotized by Ann”, “Hypnotized by Katherine” and etc…
Of course, such titles is a very good commercial course. But the whole album… I’m afraid, it would be boring.
May be you are right. The new single was released, soon will be released the album. What will be further? The tour?
Yes, The Europe, including, of course, Russia, America And etc…
When will you come to Russia?
The exact dates are not named yet. Somewhere in autumn.
By the way,Russia is lashed by “German wave”. Many music lovers listen to your group, Tokio Hotel, Panik, LaFee, Aloha From Hell and other groups from Germany. Can you explain this epidemic interest to young German groups?
In Germany there are really lots of interesting groups. Young music lovers find for themselves lots of interesting singers in the Internet, even if they have no albums. It happened to us. Our debut CD was released at first only in Germany. But thanks to the Internet, appeared a lot of fans from Russia,France,America and other countries.
I wonder, what relations are between you and Tokio Hotel, for example? Are you friends? Rivals? Or are you just colleagues?
M-m-m… I think, we are colleagues. Every does serious work. We have nothing for being rivals: who will win? We respect them and that, what they do.
Don’t you have a thought, that Cinema Bizarre is the coolest one?
( Laughing). May be our fans have such thought. If you thing so, thank you for the compliment!
What do you think about such old German groups as Haloween, Scorpions, Rammstein?
I treat them kindly. Rammstein is one of the most my favorite groups.
Who are your idols?
When I was a little boy, I listened to a lot of r’n’b, Michael Jackson. I like and always liked artists, who gives much attention for visual part. For example, David Bowie, Adam Ant, Grace Jones. That, what they do gives me great inspiration.
We can feel it by songs of Cinema Bizarre. Finally, say some words for your Russian fans.
I love our Russian fans very much and always come to Russia with great pleasure. Hope, see you soon!
